William M. Wemett Photograph Collection
Collection
Identifier: Photo 2150
Scope and Contents
The William M. Wemett Photograph Collection is broken down into four series, People Series, Indians Series, Custer Battlefield Series, and North Dakota Series. There are no photos of William Wemett or his family in the collection, and likely were collected by Mr. Wemett for publications or personal interest purposes.
The People series contains a wide range of portraits of a number of people prominent in Valley City or North Dakota history. Many are of military people who were involved with General Custer at the Battle of Little Big Horn, mostly taken by the prominent frontier photographer David F. Barry. Some of the people featured in this series are Father Belcourt; Buffalo Bill, General and Libbie Custer O. P. Enerson, Charley Reynolds, J. H. Whitcher, Capt. Benteen, Gen. Crook, Capt. Thomas Custer, Gen. Forsyth Lt. Godfrey, Lt. Colonel Keogh Gen. Reno and Maj. Gen. Regis de Trobriand.
The Indians Series contain portrait photographs of Chief’s Crow, Curley, Fire Cloud, Gall, Joseph, Rain in the Face; Red Cloud, Running Antelope, Sitting Bull, Spotted Tail, Thunder Hawk, mostly taken by photographer Barry. There is also some postcard, Sitting Bull’s home and family at Grand River, and group of Ghost Dancers. Some view taken in Standing Rock include the Dedication of Standing Rock memorial, the Hill on Grand River where Sitting Bull prayed before he was killed, and a photo of a burial tree.
Custer Battlefield Series are a set of photographs taken on the 10th Anniversary of the Battle of Little Bighorn in Montana. All appear to be reenactments of battle scenes taken by photographer Barry. There are also two images that include the horse Comanche.
The North Dakota Series, is an eclectic series of photographs of various locations in Valley City, the Missouri River, Belcourt, and some aerial photographs over the oil fields taken in the 1950s.
The People series contains a wide range of portraits of a number of people prominent in Valley City or North Dakota history. Many are of military people who were involved with General Custer at the Battle of Little Big Horn, mostly taken by the prominent frontier photographer David F. Barry. Some of the people featured in this series are Father Belcourt; Buffalo Bill, General and Libbie Custer O. P. Enerson, Charley Reynolds, J. H. Whitcher, Capt. Benteen, Gen. Crook, Capt. Thomas Custer, Gen. Forsyth Lt. Godfrey, Lt. Colonel Keogh Gen. Reno and Maj. Gen. Regis de Trobriand.
The Indians Series contain portrait photographs of Chief’s Crow, Curley, Fire Cloud, Gall, Joseph, Rain in the Face; Red Cloud, Running Antelope, Sitting Bull, Spotted Tail, Thunder Hawk, mostly taken by photographer Barry. There is also some postcard, Sitting Bull’s home and family at Grand River, and group of Ghost Dancers. Some view taken in Standing Rock include the Dedication of Standing Rock memorial, the Hill on Grand River where Sitting Bull prayed before he was killed, and a photo of a burial tree.
Custer Battlefield Series are a set of photographs taken on the 10th Anniversary of the Battle of Little Bighorn in Montana. All appear to be reenactments of battle scenes taken by photographer Barry. There are also two images that include the horse Comanche.
The North Dakota Series, is an eclectic series of photographs of various locations in Valley City, the Missouri River, Belcourt, and some aerial photographs over the oil fields taken in the 1950s.
Dates
- 1870s-1957.
Access
The collection is open under the rules and regulations of the NDSU Archives.
Copyrights
Copyrights to this collection are not held by the NDSU Archives.
Biography
William Marks Wemett was born at Hemlock Lake, New York, on February 10, 1884. He graduated from Syracuse University in 1907. After teaching high school briefly, at Albion, New York, and Jacksonville, Illinois, he came to the State Teachers College at Valley City, North Dakota, in 1910, where he taught until his retirement in 1954. While there, Dr. Wemett was the head of the Department of History and Social Science. On September 7, 1911, Mr. Wemett married Fern Stephenson at Rochester, New York. They had four children, Lynn, Carol, Fern and William, Jr.
In 1927, Dr. Wemett was instrumental in introducing the Young Citizens League from South Dakota to North Dakota, served as its president and, from 1943, served as its national president. He also served on the local and state levels of Kiwanis and the North Dakota Higher Education Association. Dr. Wemett died on September 29, 1965, at Polson, Montana and Mrs. Wemett in 1967. Dr. Wemett wrote several publications including, The Story of the Flickertail State, The Indians of North Dakota, A Geography of North Dakota, The Teacher Who Gets Ahead, General Beadle, A List of Publications Distributed Gratis, and Oil in North Dakota.
In 1927, Dr. Wemett was instrumental in introducing the Young Citizens League from South Dakota to North Dakota, served as its president and, from 1943, served as its national president. He also served on the local and state levels of Kiwanis and the North Dakota Higher Education Association. Dr. Wemett died on September 29, 1965, at Polson, Montana and Mrs. Wemett in 1967. Dr. Wemett wrote several publications including, The Story of the Flickertail State, The Indians of North Dakota, A Geography of North Dakota, The Teacher Who Gets Ahead, General Beadle, A List of Publications Distributed Gratis, and Oil in North Dakota.
Extent
65 Photographic Prints
Language of Materials
English
Overview
Photos collected by William Wemett, a Valley City State College history professor mostly of North Dakota Indians, and Battle of Little Big Horn military leaders and reenacted scenes. Many photos taken by photographer David F. Barry.
Provenance
Donated by William M. Wemett, 1954, and Mrs. Wemett, 1965 (Acc. 449).
Property rights
The NDSU Archives owns the property rights to this collection.
- Title
- Finding aid to the William M. Wemett Photograph Collection
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Institute for Regional Studies Repository
Contact:
West Building N
3551 7th Avenue North
Fargo North Dakota 58102 United States
ndsu.archives@ndsu.edu
West Building N
3551 7th Avenue North
Fargo North Dakota 58102 United States
ndsu.archives@ndsu.edu